By Gabriel Monte: Freedom Newspapers A Rogers man has been charged with the 2005 death of a Causey rancher, according to a press release from the District Attorney’s office. A federal grand jury indicted Donald Taylor, 27, Monday on racketeering and murder charges in connection with the July 2005 death of 71-year-old Jimmy “Bo” Chunn, […]

Editorial A ruling Monday that President Bush does not have the constitutional authority to detain a legal U.S. resident indefinitely without charges in a Navy brig in South Carolina was narrowly crafted to the facts of the case and studiously avoided discussing prisoners held in similar circumstances at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. But the ruling […]

By Sharna Johnson: Freedom Newspapers A former Melrose police chief will face a single animal cruelty charge after a Magistrate Court judge ordered the prosecutor to dismiss six other charges, according to court records filed Thursday. Records show Magistrate Judge Buddy Hall — who previously ordered the charges be prosecuted individually — based his decision […]

By Kevin Wilson, Freedom Newspapers ALBUQUERQUE — Prosecution and defense attorneys agreed Monday that prosecution witness Cynthia Peninger was threatened about revealing what she knew about the 2005 deaths of Doris and Odis Newman. They disagreed on who was doing the threatening. The prosecution said it was capital murder defendant Stanley Bedford who threatened Peninger. […]

By Kevin Wilson: Freedom Newspapers ALBUQUERQUE — With a series of hypothetical questions, showings of hands and criticisms of popular television shows, a panel of 65 men and women was pared down to 16 jurors in the case of a man accused of killing an elderly Portales couple. Wednesday was the final day of jury […]

By Kevin Wilson: Freedom Newspapers ALBUQUERQUE — The court has reached its stated goal in a jury pool for the trial of a man accused of killing an elderly Portales couple. However, all sides involved feel they’d be best served with one more day of selection. There are 61 potential jurors on a panel to […]

The following dispositions were recently filed in the Roosevelt County District Court. According to the documents: • Lonnie Sue Burton, 33, pleaded no contest to the charges of forgery and theft of identity, was ordered to serve 36 months of probation, pay restitution, and pay court fees and fines. • Paul Gutierrez, 34, pleaded no […]

By Karl Terry: PNT Managing Editor Roosevelt County Sheriff Darren Hooker made good on one of his campaign promises last week as his office participated in a sweep of suspected drug traffickers with the Region V Drug Task Force. The roundup, which netted the arrest of 22 people on outstanding drug and narcotics charges and […]

Freedom Newspapers A 30-year-old Clovis man was sentenced Friday to nine years in prison on felony burglary and drug charges, according to a press release from the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Harvey Whitley was convicted of two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of larceny, receiving stolen property and two counts of possession of […]

PNT Staff Report A Portales man was sentenced Monday on charges filed in connection with the March 3, 2005 murders of Odis and Doris Newman of Portales. According to a press release from the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s office, Archie Crawford, 26, of Portales has been sentenced to eight years in the New Mexico penitentiary, […]

Freedom Newspapers Facing charges of seven counts of cruelty to animals, Melrose’s police chief resigned Friday, according to the village mayor. Mike Trammell, 36, had been on administrative leave since his Oct. 11 arrest on the charges. Trammell’s wife, Marna Pyle-Trammell, declined comment Friday. Melrose Mayor Lance Pyle said Trammell was not asked to resign. […]

PNT Staff Report A 23-year-old Portales man signed a plea agreement last week in connection with the theft in March of more than $600,000 from an armored car service that employed him, according to court documents filed in 9th Judicial District Court in Portales. According to 9th Judicial District Attorney Matt Chandler, Scott Kirby agreed […]

27th Fighter Wing Public Affairs An Article 39A motion hearing concluded Sept. 8 in the Cannon courtroom in the case of the United States vs. Airman Basic Edward M. Novak. The defense counsel for the accused previously filed three separate motions: request for a new Article 32 investigation, a request to sever the charges against […]

Staff Sgt. Craig Seals An Article 32 pretrial hearing was held in the 27th Fighter Wing courtroom from June 12 to 14 regarding charges preferred against Airman Basic Edward Novak for the October 2004 death of his wife, Kimberly Novak, in their home on Cannon Air Force Base. Airman Novak, 27th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, was […]

Freedom Newspapers Proceedings began Monday in a Cannon Air Force Base courtroom to determine if a base airman will stand trial for the homicide of his wife. The hearing comes more than 20 months after Kimberly Novak, 20, was found dead at the base home she shared with her husband and young daughter. She died […]

27th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Criminal charges were preferred against Airman First Class Edward M. Novak for the October 2004 death of his wife, Kimberly S. Novak, in their home on Cannon Air Force Base. Airman Novak, 27th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, was charged with murder and child abuse. The next stage of the military justice […]

Man indicted by grand jury on murder charges A grand jury indicted Jim Bentley, 71, of Farmington on second-degree murder Friday in connection with the Christmas eve slaying of an Oklahoma man outside a Clovis motel, according to a release from the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Bentley is accused of shooting Joseph Phillips Jr., […]

Staff Reports A Roosevelt County grand jury indicted a former Eastern New Mexico University student Wednesday on charges related to a recent bomb scare, according to 9th Judicial District Attorney Matt Chandler. Joshua Gilpin, 28, was indicted on charges of possession of an explosive incendiary device, possession of marijuana, larceny and tampering with evidence. Gilpin’s […]

Tony Parra: PNT Staff Writer The 9th Judicial District Attorney’s office has dropped charges against a street preacher accused of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Deputy District Attorney Donna Mowrer dropped the charges on Oct. 19 in Portales Magistrate Court. Shawn Miller, 33, was arrested the morning of April 17 for causing a disturbance to […]

By Karl Terry The uncle of a 10-month-old boy who fell from a deck on Oct. 4 has been arrested in connection with the case. Derek Parker, 22, of Clovis, was charged with abandonment abuse of a child, a first-degree felony, Portales Police Capt. Lonnie Berry said. Parker turned himself into Portales police on Monday […]